“Taboo: The Questions You Aren´t Supposed To Ask” is a short Kindle book, written from a
relatively mainline Protestant perspective. It discusses a number of “taboo”
subjects, such as the apocryphal gospels, evolution or the prophecies of
Nostradamus. First, I wonder whether these questions really *are* taboo in
mainline denominations? Second, the booklet is badly written, contains
colloquial language and doesn't feel very convincing.
Its criticism of Nostradamus is a case in point. Yes, most of the quatrains are indeed “murky”, but what about Revelation or the Book of Daniel? Keep it short and simple…not! Indeed, the author then retreats and admits that perhaps Revelation doesn't contain true prophecies either (at least not detailed ones), and should be read as a poetic-symbolic narrative relevant to the situation of all believers at all times…
The author strikes an (admittedly sympathetic) irenic pose towards Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, and also to modern science and the theory of evolution. My main objection to “Taboo” is mostly the bad style of writing, since it's obviously difficult to fault a mainline guy for being mainline!
Of course, in a sequel, I suppose he could wrestle with some *really* taboo subjects, such as same-sex marriage, Joshua's conquest of the Canaan or eternal damnation…
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